The Community Mural Project was a major component of the Cleveland Foundation’s Community of Relationships grant, which aimed to enhance the museum’s relationship with four neighboring communities: East Cleveland, Fairfax, Glenville, and Hough. The mural project was a collaboration in which the museum linked professional artists with neighborhood residents. Cleveland artists involved community members in creating large-scale murals for selected neighborhood locations. Murals were created in each community in 2010 and 2011 for a total of 8 murals.

In both 2010 and 2011 Chalk Festival participants and attendees previewed the mural designs as the artists chalked the full mural cartoon (sketch) during Chalk Festival weekend. Buses transported community members to the Chalk Festival.

The murals were painted on polymetal panels at sites in the community or at the artists’ studios and then installed on site. The artists officially introduced their murals to the public in November 2010 and March 2012 via trolley tours of the murals, which began at the museum and circulated through the communities. The Hough mural for League Park was viewed at Fatima Family Center; installation of this mural awaits completion of League Park renovations.

For questions contact Community Arts at 216-707-2483 or e-mail commartsinfo [at] clevelandart.org.

Anna Arnold takes a work break between panels of her mural, which depicts the ideals and aspirations of East Cleveland and the positive work being carried out in the city.

Sequoia Versillee chose to use the humble dandelion seed as a focal point for her mural, because like people who come from particular ethnic backgrounds or lower economic strata, the dandelion is viewed as a nuisance due to its insistence to survive and thrive in spite of the obstacles slated against it.

Jerome White’s mural will be part of the restored League Park Plaza, due to be completed in April 2013; the arches are doorways from the past to the present to the future, and the brick wall represents stability and strength.

Each arch in Jerome White’s mural contains a sports legend from Cleveland Indians/League Park history; the nine arches symbolize the nine innings in a baseball game.

Van Monroe’s Fairfax mural portrays a young boy who aspires to become a director in film and theater beginning his journey at Karamu House and a girl who fulfills her dream of becoming a doctor for the Cleveland Clinic.

Van Monroe works on his mural, which reflects the history, institutions, and aspirations of the Fairfax community.